Electric switch operating apparatus



61km SR unuufl. HLFQE'HLEEUE HUUEW FIP8502. 39'594qz616 f July 30. 1968 w. GIGER, JR 3,394,616

ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR. WAL 75/? 6/655, L/IF.

ATTORNEY July 30, 1968 w. GIGER, JR

ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheec 2 Filed March 22, 1966 INVENTOR. WA T51? 6165?, JR. BY [1 0M]: C

A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,394,616 ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Walter Giger, Jr., West Hartford, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 536,427 2 Claims. (Cl. 74-625) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrically and manually actuated switch operating mechanism including a linear type induction motor acting to move a first gear along a fixed gear track; concentric with the first gear is a smaller gear which drives a movable gear track connected to the switching operating handle. A manually operable handle is attached to the movable portion of the motor whereby the switch may be manually operated through the same gear means when the motor is d ertergized.

The present invention relates to electrically and manually actliatable apparatus for operating a reciprocally operable member, and more particularly to such apparatus for operating oscillatable handles of electric switches and circuit breakers.

Electric circuit breakers of the type including manual- 1y engageable oscillatable operating handles are frequently provided with motor-driven actuating means to permit remote control and automatic operation of the circuit breaker. Prior art motor-driven devices for such circuit breakers are relatively large and expensive. In addition, over-riding manual operation of such devices which is very desirable in case of emergency, has not been readily achievable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel electrically actuated switch operating mechanism capable of utilizing electric power-generating means of relatively low force to operate oscillatable handles of electric control devices with the relatively high force requirements.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the type described using a relatively low forcegenerating electrical actuating means which is nevertheless capable of operating a high force oscillatable handle and which also is freely operable manually without disconnecting the motor-driven actuating "means.

It is also an object of the, invention to provide such a mechanism which is relatively simple in construction and in operation and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

In accordance with the invention in one form, operating mechanism is provided comprising a support, a longitudinally moving motion-input member supported on the support, a longitudinally moving motion-output member supported on the support, an electric motor, and special force-multiplying means interconnecting the input and output members. The interconnecting means includes a gear mechanism comprising a stationary rack gear fixedly mounted on the support and engaged by a relatively large pinion gear carried by the motion-input member. A relatively small pinion gear is also provided, connected in oneto-one driving relation to the first pinion gear and in turn engaging the motion-output member, which includes a second rack gear slidably carried by the support. A handle engaging means is carried by the motion-output member and engages the oscillatable handle of the control device to be operated.

In the preferred embodiment, a special form of electric motor is used, comprising an armature" fixedly mounted on the support and a linear induction motor stator assembly, movable along the armature. Such motors are ice , 2 known as long-stroke electric linear power actuators of the induction motor type. An exemplary device is described in United States Letters Patent No. 3,148,292: By providing an armature fixedly mounted on the support, the stator assembly may move along the length of the armature and its direction of movement is reversible by reversing the direction of current supplied thereto. Electrical connections to the induction motor are provided through flexible cables.

Linear induction motors of the type described are relatively small and inexpensive. The force-generating capabilities of such motors, however, are less than that required to operate the handles of electric switches and circuit breakers of substantial capacity, such for example as 50, or more amperes. Such motors may, however, be readily used for this purpose by means of the mechanical advantage provided by the present invention.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and the scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a circuit breaker assembly embodying the electrically and manually operable switch operating mechanism of the present invention, with a portion of the operating parts shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view in elevation, and on enlarged scale, of the switch operating mechanism of FIG- URE 1 taken generally on the plane indicated by the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, the parts being shown in the off position;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 with the parts shown in the on position, and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the switch operating mechanism of FIGURE 1, taken generally on theline 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in detail to the attached drawings, FIG- URES 1-5 illustrate a switch operating mechanism embodying the present invention shown in assembly with a circuit breaker generally designated by the numeral 10 having a housing 12 and a manually operable oscillatable handle 14. The electrically and manually actuatable switch operating mechanism of the invention is designated generally by the numeral 16,-and includes a support or housing 18 which is mounted on the top of thehousing 12, through which the oscillatable handle 14 extends.

Extending within the housing 18 parallel to the path of movement of the handle 14 is an elongated armature 20 which is fixedly mounted on the end walls of the housing 18 by means of fasteners '22. A linear induction motor stator assembly 24 is mounted on the armature 20 and is freely slidable thereon over the length thereof within the housing 18 and is electrically connectable to a power supply by flexible cables (not shown) of suflicient length to allow movement of the stator assembly 24 the full length of the armature 20. The stator assembly 24 is movable along the armature 20 in either direction depending on the polarity of its connections to the power source, and produces a uniform force over its entire stroke. When the stator 24 is not electrically energized, it offers no resistance to movement along the armature 20 except for friction between the parts.

To permit use of this relatively low cost and compact linear induction motor to operate the oscillatable handle 14, a mechanical advantage or increase in the force produced by the induction motor is provided by a mechanism as shown particularly in FIGURES 3 and 4. This mechanism includes a shaft 30 mounted on the stator assembly 24 by means of a braket 30A and extending generally perpendicular to the top of the circuit breaker =10. Rotatably supported by the shaft 30 is a relatively large pinion gear 32. A stationary rack gear 34 is fixedly mounted on the housing 18 and arranged to be engaged by the pinion gear 32 as the stator 24 travels along the armature 20. A relatively small pinion gear 36 is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 30 in such a manner as to rotate in one-to-one turns relation with the gear 32. As it travels, the gear 36 engages a second rack gear 38 which is slidably mounted on the housing 18 by means of headed guide studs 46.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second rack gear 38 comprises part of a plate-like member generally designated by the numeral 40. A supporting plate generally designated by the numeral 42 is suitably mounted on the base of the housing 18 and extends upwardly to provide a fiat support portion 44 furnishing a sliding surface for the sliding member 40 (sec FIGURE 2). Two elongated longitudinal apertures 48 in the sliding member 40 receive the guide pins 46 having washers or retaining members 50 on the upper side thereof to retain the sliding member 40 between the support portion 44 and the retaining members 50. The oscillatable handle 14 of the circuit breaker is disposed in a suitable aperture 52 in the sliding member 40. The member 40 is slidable longitudinally on the support portion 44 through a distance permitted by the length of the elongated apertures 48 therein until stopped by the guide pins 46. The movement of the sliding member 40 moves the handle 14 to operate the circuit breaker mech anism.

It will be seen therefore that the motion-transmitting mechanism comprises a straight-line moving input-member, i.e., stator 24, a straight-line moving output member, i.e., plate 40, and mechanical-advantage means interconnecting these members. The interconnecting means comprises first pinion gear 32 carried by the motion-input member engaging the stationary rack gear 34, and the second pinion gear 36 engaging the movable rack gear 38 connected to the output-member 40. The output-member 40, finally, includes means, aperture 52, engaging the handle 14 of the circuit breaker.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, the stationary first rack gear 34 is formed along the longitudinal edge of the support portion 44 of the supporting plate 42, and the first pinion gear 32 is aligned therewith. The supporting plate 42 also provides a guide portion 45 extending below the first gear rack 34 and under the first pinion gear 32. An elongated aperture 51 formed in the guide portion 45 receives the shaft to guide the movement of the shaft 30 longitudinally within the housing 18.

The operation of the electrically and manually operated switch mechanism is as follows: when the stator assembly 24 is electrically energized and moves along the armature 20, the shaft 30 is thereby moved longitudinally within the elongated aperture 51 of the supporting plate guide portion 45. This longitudinal movement of shaft 30 causes the large pinion gear 32 to rotate as its gear teeth mesh with the corresponding teeth on the fixed gear rack 34. This rotation of gear 32 in turn causes rotation of the smaller second gear 36 which is connected thereto in directing driving (1:1) relation. The second pinion gear 36 engages the second rack gear 38 thereto causing longitudinal movement of the second rack gear 38 and sliding member within the housing 18 in the same direction as the movement of the motor 24.

As the sliding member 40 moves longitudinally within the housing 18, the walls defining the sides of the aperture 52 engage the oscillatable handle 14 of the circuit breaker 10 and move the handle to the desired position. Since the second pinion gear 36 is smaller than the first pinion gear 32, a mechanical advantage is provided so that the sliding member 40 travels a shorter distance than the stator member 24. Accordingly, a greater force is provided to actuate the oscillatable handle 14 than would be available if the induction motor 24 were directly attached to the handle 14.

In order to operate the switching assembly manually, a handle 54 is provided, having arms 56 extending through elongated apertures 58 in the housing 18 and fixedly mounted on the stator assembly 24 so that it may be manually gripped on the exterior of the housing 18 and moved to move the stator assembly 24 longitudinally along the armature 20. Since the stator assembly offers no substantial resistance to movement along the armature 20 when it is not energized, it may be moved freely along the armature 20 by manual movement of the handle 54. It can be seen that manual movement of the stator assembly 24 by the handle 54 causes a corresponding movement of the gear assembly to that produced by electrical actuation described above so that the oscillatable handle 14 of the circuit breaker 10 is moved to the desired position. It will also be observed that the mechanical advantage feature of the mechanism also assists manual operation.

Thus the present invention provides a novel electrically energized switch operating mechanism which provides mechanical advantage to increase the force of a relatively low-force power source to operate the oscillatable handle of an electric control device. The electrically actuated switch operating mechanism is relatively simple in construction and in operation and is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

While the invention has been illustrated in only one embodiment, it will be readily apparent that many modifications thereof may be made, and I therefore intend by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electrically and manually actuated switch operating mechanism for use with an electric switch having an oscillatable handle comprising:

(a) a support;

(b) a motion-input member;

(c) means supporting said motion-input member on said support for reciprocal straight-line movement along a predetermined path;

(d) a first rack gear fixedly supported on said support and extending substantially parallel to said predetermined path;

(e) a second rack gear extending substantially parallel to said first rack gear;

(f) means supporting said second rack gear on said support for reciprocal straight-line movement along a second path extending substantially parallel to said predetermined path;

(g) a first pinion gear rotatably supported on said motion-input member and engaging said first rack gear in meshing relation as said motion-input member moves along said predetermined path;

(h) a second pinion gear rotatably supported on said motion-input member and engaging said second rack gear in meshing relation as said motion-input member moves along said predetermined path;

(i) means connecting said second pinion gear to be driven by said first pinion gear in one-t0-0ne turns relation;

(j) said second pinion gear having a diameter less than said first pinion gear, whereby said second rack gear is moved along said second path at a rate of movement less than the rate of movement of said motioninput member, and

(k) motion-input means carried by said second rack gear;

(1) an elongated armature;

(in) means supporting said armature in fixed relation with respect to said support;

(n) an induction type motor stator assembly;

(0) means supporting said motor'stator assembly for reciprocal straight-line movement along a path extending substantially parallel to said predetermined path and in electrical driving relation to said armature, said stator assembly being freely slidable along said armature when said stator assembly is electrically de-energized;

(p) means connecting said motor stator assembly to said motion-input member;

(q) manually engageable operating means supported on said support, and

(r) means connecting said manually engageable operating means to said motor stator assembly.

2. An electrically and manually actuated switch operating mechanism for use with an electric switch having an oscillatable handle comprising:

(a) a support;

(b) a motion-input member;

(0) means supporting said motion-input member on said support for reciprocal straight-line movement along a predetermined path;

(d) a first rack gear fixedly supported on said support and extending substantially parallel to said predetermined path;

(e) a second rack gear extending substantially parallel to said first rack gear;

(f) means supporting said second rack gear on said support for reciprocal straight-line movement along a second path extending substantially parallel to said predetermined path;

(g) a first pinion gear rotatably supported on said motion-input member and engaging said first rack gear in meshing relation as said motion-input member moves along said predetermined path;

(h) a second pinion gear rotatably supported on said motion-input member and engaging said second rack gear in meshing relation as said motion-input member moves along said predetermined path;

(i) means connecting said second pinion gear to be driven by said first pinion gear in one-to-one turns relation;

(i) said second pinion gear having a diameter less than said first pinion gear, whereby said second rack gear is moved along said second path at a rate of movement'less than the rate of movement of said motioninput member, and

(k) motion-input means carried by said second rack gear;

(1) a linear type induction motor supported on said support and comprising an elongated armature portion and a stator portion, one of said portions of said motor being fixedly mounted on said support and the other of said portions being slidably movable with respect to said support;

(In) means connecting said slidably movable portion of said motor to said motion-input member;

(11) manually engageable operating means supported on said support, and

(0) means connecting said manually engageable operating means to said movable portion of said motor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,172 12/1925 Powell 7429 1,950,611 3/1934 Hedley et al. 310-13 2,621,543 12/ 1952 Rossmann 74625 3,148,292 9/1964 Bergslien et al.

3,171,920 3/ 1965 Klein et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 356,190 9/ 1961 Switzerland.

- FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner.

W. S. RATLIFF, Assistant Examiner. 

